Letter to Municipal Corporation about Street Vendors in Locality

Who are the Street vendors?

Street vendors (also known as 'roadside hawkers') are the persons who sell goods or offer services alongside the street/road from their mobile stalls, head-loads, or goods laid out on the sidewalk, or kept in an open van.

They do not have any permanently built shop establishment and manage their business from any temporary structure.

Generally, street vendors are engaged in the selling of food and stationary daily use items, fish and meats, repairing services, and many more variety of items.

How the Street vendors become a nuisance to a locality?

The presence of street vendors in a locality may create nuisance in that area in some ways, like:

(1) unhygienic — the leftovers from the food items, fruits and vegetables which remain beside the street, may create unhygienic atmosphere there for everyone including the fresh food items;

(2) uncleanliness — since their business is almost on the road, their primary duty is to try best not to leave any dirty items from their business on the road;

(3) noise and disturbance — the competition is even tougher for the street vendors, their primary mode of advertising their business is by shouting loudly about their goods to attract customers, in this process they should not cause any inconvenience to commuters and pedestrians;

(4) disputes — conflicts between street vendors are quite common, which sometimes leads to fighting between them. When this becomes a regular activity, it becomes very annoying for them.

(5) covering streets — the street vendors are not supposed to take up more area in a street which will 

Where to complain against the nuisance caused by street vendors?

If the locality comes under municipal corporation, then complain about it to the appropriate officer or committee in municipal corporation.

If the locality comes under gram panchayat (village council), then complain it to the concerned panchayat member or committee.

Should you complain or not?

A street vendor's life is a fight for survival on a daily basis. Most of them earn very low incomes compared to the cost of living these days. Hence, it would be advisable to discuss the matter with them first and come to an amicable solution.

If you don't feel like talking to them alone, go with a few local residents to friendly discuss this matter and resolve the issue. If they do not show any interest to resolve, you may take the last resort to lodge complaints.

Can I write Anonymously?

Yes, you may write anonymously without mentioning your name in the letter or even without signing it. But how serious the authority will take up your complaint is a bit questionable. And without mentioning your name, you can't follow up with them on the status. It's entirely your choice.

SAMPLE

(letter to municipal corporation complaining about the street vendors in your locality)

Date: .................

To

The Municipal Commissioner

(..................... Municipality)

(Address)

Sub.: Complaint against the street vendors for creating unhygienic atmosphere

Dear Sir,

This is to bring to your goodself's kind attention that the street vendors, who are carrying on their business on daily basis beside the street of (....name of the street....) near the .............market in our ........locality, are creating insanitary conditions alongside the place they are operating. 

I along with some of the other residents in our locality had been personally requesting most of these street vendors to not to create any kind of unhygienic atmosphere around the place of their business operation and to keep it neat and clean as far as possible. While they care to do it for a couple of days, but then again they go back to their usual routine and throw garbage beside the street, which can lead to health issues for people around the locality.

I am enclosing herewith a photograph of the unhygienic place caused by the said street vendors in our locality as stated hereinabove.

We, the local residents, would greatly appreciate your kind help and prompt action in this regard.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Signature

(Name of the Complainant)

Enclosed:

Photographs